Author: edquestions

There’s no shortage of natural remedies for erectile dysfunction, and I’m sure that most of them probably do work for at least some of those who’ve tried them. Few have been studied extensively to determine whether their effects are real and quantifiable in scientific terms or mostly the result of the so-called placebo effect.

For centuries, impotent males in the Far East have turned to acupuncture, a mainstay of Eastern medicine. However, WebMD reports that a South Korean review of studies on the use of acupuncture for ED concluded “the evidence is insufficient to suggest that acupuncture is an effective intervention for treating ED.”

A number of herbal remedies have reportedly worked for some of the men who’ve tried them, but there isn’t much scientific research to back up those claims. One exception is the amino acid L-arginine, supplements of which can be purchased over the counter in health stores and at your local pharmacy. Arginine stimulates your body’s production of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels supplying the penis, thus facilitating erection.

I’ve heard that hypnosis works for some men whose erectile dysfunction is mostly psychologically rooted. However, before I spent any money on a hypnotherapist or undertook any self-hypnosis exercises, I’d have my doctor check me out thoroughly to rule out any physiological causes for my problems.

That said, I would think that hypnosis could be particularly helpful in reducing stress and performance anxiety, which often combine with physical factors to make it even more difficult to achieve an erection.

Self-hypnosis, combined with relaxation techniques, doesn’t really involve any trances but is rather a form of self-suggestion during which you spend 15 or 20 minutes clearing your mind of all else beside a goal you want to accomplish. Focusing on that goal to the exclusion of all other thoughts plants a seed in your subconscious mind that over time can help you to accomplish the goal.

In the not too distant past, it was widely believed that most erectile dysfunction had its roots in psychological problems. Although it is now recognized that the vast majority of ED can be traced to physiological causes, psychotherapy can help the 10 percent or so of men whose erection difficulties are emotional or psychological in origin.

It probably is a good idea to get fully checked out by your medical doctor to see if your impotence is physiological in nature. Even if it is physiological, there may be a psychological component to the problems that would make it helpful to talk over your fears and worries with a psychotherapist.

Among the more common psychological factors that can cause impotence, according to EverydayHealth.com, are general anxiety, depression, lack of interest in sex, and problems related to low self-esteem. Other factors that a psychiatrist or psychotherapist can address are relationship problems, problems communicating with your partner, anxiety or nervousness about sex, stress at home or at work, overly high expectations of yourself in terms of performance, and feelings of self-consciousness during sexual activity.

While I’ve never had an injection myself, I’ve heard from others that the process isn’t nearly as daunting as it seems. I’d be interested to hear others’ reactions.

Like other erectile dysfunction remedies, injections work by relaxing the smooth muscles of the penis so that blood vessels dilate and allow strong blood flow into the penis’s erectile tissue. One of the substances used most widely in penile injections is called Trimix, which combines three medications: alprostadil, phentolamine, and papaverine.

Your first few injections are almost always performed by a doctor in his or her office so it can be determined what concentration of Trimix is needed to allow you to achieve an erection. The doctor will also monitor your first couple of self-injections to ensure that you fully understand the procedure. You can read more about penile injection therapy at this site operated by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

If you’re not already familiar with it, homeopathy is a system of medicine in which practitioners treat patients “with highly diluted substances, given mainly in tablet form, with the aim of triggering the body’s natural system of healing,” according to the U.K.-based Society of Homeopaths.

The concept behind homeopathy is that you treat “like with like,” meaning that a substance that causes certain symptoms in large doses can be used in diluted form to eventually overcome those same symptoms. Homeopathic remedies are compounded out of natural substances, such as plants, minerals, or even animal matter, such as crushed bees.

To try homeopathy to treat your ED, you should visit the website of the North American Society of Homeopaths to find a practitioner located near you. Among the homeopathic remedies that have helped others to overcome their impotence are Agnus castus, Argentum nitricum, Baryta carbonica, Caladium, Lycopodium, Sabal serrulata (saw palmetto), Selenium metallicum, and Staphysagria.